Mad Max: Fury Road is a great movie that never gets fairly endorsed, wither it's Feminists claiming it's about fighting patriarchy or Joe Shmo talking about the guitar guy it's not gonna prepare you for what's in store.
Something no one can take away from Fury Road is it is a all caps ACTION movie. It's pretty much 80 minutes of the climax from Road Warrior but replacing the kid with a chick as good at Max at putting fools in the ground. Joe Shmo makes you think it'll be an insane over-the-top wasteland highway shoot 'em up, but it doesn't get crazier than the flamethrower guitar. And even with guitar man, he doesn't kill anyone with the flames, or blow up a car, he's just rockin out everytime we see him. While Fury Road doesn't adopt the high octane ridiculousness of 80's action flicks, it doesn't shackle itself with total realism. Like the other films the stunts are feasibly possible, but extremely unlikely, and very enjoyable. If you want a movie that jumps to the good stuff and doesn't overstay any welcomes, this is one of the best in the 2010s.
But if the only misleading press was dressing up 70's implausible action as 80's impossible action I wouldn't be writing a review on Christmas. No, time for the elephant in the room: Feminism. This flick ain't feminist. The only way to win a debate is to meet the opposition on their terms, not yours, so I will very carefully explain why Immortan Joe's kingdom ain't a patriarchy.
First and most migraine inducing: Patriarchy. Patriarchy is family/government/clan structure where the eldest male makes all decisions and women are judged solely on their utility at best and chattel at worst. Feminists use the sex slaves, war boys, and Immortan Joe's total power as evidence that Joe's raiders are a patriarchal power structure that needs a smashing. But is it? Is Immortan Joe in charge because he's the oldest cock for miles? No. No he's not. He's big boss cause he's got water. People flock there to get H2O. Then Joe takes their sons to become his army. He also takes sex slaves so he can have children to become generals of his brainwashed slave army. It's not patriarchy, it's a primitive form of Machiavellian Feudalism. He's loved for his water, feared for his army, and noble blood is required for officer status, and subjects owe tribute. So if you were to look at the symbolic struggle between cruel pyschos and noble maniacs there's more links to a struggle peaceful anarchy vs violent monarchy than feminism vs patriarchy.
Overall a great movie that should adorn the DVD collection of any fan of action or dystopia. Not as insane as it's made out to be but a nice throwback to 1970's bone breaking action. Any character could be gender bent and the plot wouldn't suffer.
Great and imaginative Action
Surprisingly deep characters
Ok, just for three characters, but none are weak
Best written Max
Good throwbacks, doesn't take you out of it
Not enough focus on Max
No sawn off shotgun kills!
9/10 Best reboot I've seen, who knows, maybe the sequel will be transcendent like Road Warrior was in the original trilogy.